Clinton Malcolm Tinker

Clinton Malcolm Tinker, age 74, passed away in the Annapolis Royal Nursing Home on Wednesday, May 18th. Born and raised in Freeport, he was the son of the late Malcolm and Rose (Thurber) Tinker. From a very early age Clinton enjoyed being outside and on the go. He loved spending time in the woods hiking, camping, hunting and enjoying the serenity it provided. Being on the waters of the Bay of Fundy and the Saint Mary’s Bay also gave him great pleasure. As a youngster, he rarely passed up a chance to head out on a fishing expedition whenever an opportunity presented itself. Clinton attended Islands Consolidated School in Freeport until the end of grade 11. The following year he attended Digby Regional High School where he received a diploma in business administration. After graduation he was hired by the Dept. of Highways to work in the office in Marshalltown. Several years later he transferred to the Lawrencetown office. It was during this time that he began studying part time at Acadia University and eventually graduated in 1984 with his BBA degree. Although Clinton enjoyed his job with D.O.H., it was the saltwater flowing through his veins, combined with the strong desire to return to his island community, which finally convinced him to weigh anchor and set sail for Freeport where he would soon become fully immersed in the commercial fishing industry. From that point forward, he didn’t look back. He liked being his own boss and certainly valued sailing his own ship, both literally and figuratively speaking. Clinton worked hard and became a successful fisher. On November 30, 1993, Clinton, along with his two crew members, battled dangerous seas in an attempt to rescue men from a lobster fishing boat that had run aground on a ledge at Dartmouth Point, Long Island. Clinton, along with the captain and crew of another boat from Briar Island, worked courageously in very perilous conditions to pull three men to safety. On April 4, 1995 Clinton and the other rescuers were presented Medals of Bravery at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. In 2005 Clinton’s days on the water ended due to a sudden debilitating medical condition. This was not an easy adjustment for him to make. However, as time went by he more or less accepted the reality of having to spend the rest of his days ashore. Anyone who knew Clinton could tell you that he was always willing to help anyone in need and would assist in any way that he could. Clinton was very artistic and could create some very life-like drawings of boats, animals and anything else that was of interest to him. He was also a big fan of old country music as well as many of the doo-wop songs from the 1950s. Listening and singing along to these tunes brought comfort to him during his last years of life in the Annapolis Royal Nursing Home. Clinton is survived by his wife Winifred “Grace”; brothers, Rudy (Sally) and Clifford; nephews, Nigel (Joanne) and Kyle (Angela); and great nieces, Maelyn, Nadya and Callie. As well as his parents, Clinton is predeceased by his brother, Jack. As per Clinton’s wishes cremation has taken place under the care of Jaynes Funeral Home and there will be no visitation. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. A very special thanks to Dr. Buchholz and the staff at the Annapolis Royal Nursing Home for the great care they provided to Clinton. Donations in memory can be made to the Heart and Stroke foundation of Nova Scotia or a charity of your choice.